by Anne Day | Featured Contributor
A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You don’t get anywhere until you change it.”
How true. Taking this quote literally, I have had both a flat tire and burst tire on the Highway. Each time it was a scary experience, especially the burst tire, because it happened all of a sudden. Whereas with the flat tire, I sort of knew something was wrong, but I ignored it.
Now I always drive on the outside lane for that reason, which if we were taking this analogy to relate to your business, would indicate that I like to be able to adjust quickly if necessary. Although you could also read it that I play it safe and don’t take risks or speed on the fast lane.
Personally I prefer my first definition because it speaks to how you have to be prepared to change on a dime if you want to seize an opportunity or be responsive to your customers.
It also means you are open to changing route.
As for the attitude piece, well yes. If you are demanding, aggressive or unreasonable it is much harder to win people over. In fact, it is a real turn off and in our fast-moving world, you don’t always get the second chance to reverse someone’s first opinion of you. So you don’t want to blow it.
I also think being pleasant applies to everyone, not just potential clients, but the wait staff who serve you in a restaurant, or the girl at the check out. Many a time I have witnessed boorish behavior as someone demands a certain seat, or what he wants isn’t available. It’s SO not necessary. No one deserves to be on the receiving end of your bad attitude.
Contrary to your opinion, it is not all about you, and at the end of the day, while your bad behavior may mean you win the moment, but in the long term, you lose. Big time.
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Anne Day has had a somewhat eclectic career from heading up several charities, to being the editor of a national parenting magazine, to working for government and then launching her own business.
But she found working for yourself can be isolating and so eleven years ago she started Company of Women as a way to connect and support women entrepreneurs. Today the organization has six chapters across the GTA and beyond, and over 300 members. In 2009 she received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Oakville and the TIAW World of Difference award for her work in supporting women internationally. Over the years she has helped thousands of women grow professionally and personally through her programs, services and personal encouragement.
She is the author of three books, the most recent being Day by Day – Tales of business,life and everything in between. She is a regular business columnist with Huffington Post, and blogs for numerous other publications.
